Long range between nrf52832 and nrf52840 dongle

[arsh]

Hello, 

We have a physiological monitoring system in production where we used NRF52832 as a peripheral. Connecting this peripheral with Windows bluetooth, we realised that the range is not as much as we had expected. We then experimented with NRF52840 dongle as a central (with USB-D) so that we can connect to multiple peripherals. I wanted to ask the following:

1) We have realised that it is too late to change the nrf board for peripheral, but is there any way we can change the coded phy value on the central i.e. nrf52840 so that when I connect it to NRF52832 peripheral, I can get a longer range? 

Also, I wanted to ask if in the future, we decide to switch the board on our devices from NRF52832 to NRF52840 which seems to have the same form-factor, and then use a NRF52840 dongle as a central, and considering we programmed the firmware correctly, would we get long range? or do we need to add some kinda antenna on either peripheral or central (dongle)? 

Also, please note that peripheral advertise 60 bytes of data everythin 200 mili-seconds (if that is relevant for above) 

In general, we expect to get a range of at least 200 - 300 meters.

Thank you 

Arsh

[Simonr]

Hi Arsh

I'm afraid the nRF52832 does not support Coded PHY (long-range), which is likely why you don't get the range you expected.

1. No, I'm afraid that won't be possible.

An alternative (if your peripheral's board design is already completed) is to switch to using the nRF52811 or nRF52820 instead, which does support Coded PHY, and has a QFN package that is pin compatible with the nRF52832. The nRF52840 is physically larger than the nRF52832, so nRF52811 and nRF52820 will be your only options.

There is no reliable way to communicate at 200-300 meters over BLE with the nRF52832 I'm afraid.

Best regards,

Simon

[arsh]

Hello Simonr, 

We contacted Fanstel when we faced this long range issue. They suggested us that we could simply replace the BT52832 board with BT52840 as the form factor is exactly the same. 

If I got you correctly, you are saying that the form factor is not same and we can not simply just replace the boards? Please note that by 'replacing', I meant not changing the PCB design at all? If that is not the case, can you please correct me.

Thank you 

Arsh